Publication details
- Work
- Hávamál
- Translator
- Henry Adams Bellows
- Year
- 1923
- Language
- English
- Text source
- Project Gutenberg
Edition
Henry Adams Bellows
The Poetic Edda: Translated from the Icelandic with an Introduction and Notes, published 1923.
Use and attribution
- License
- Public domain in the United States
- Read online
- Available
- Noncommercial reuse
- Permitted
- Commercial reuse
- Permitted
- Quote cards
- Available
- Attribution
- Hávamál, translated by Henry Adams Bellows, in The Poetic Edda (1923). Public-domain transcription sourced from Project Gutenberg ebook 73533.
Stanzas in this edition
Stanza 1Within the gates ere a man shall go,Comparison availableStanza 2Hail to the giver! a guest has come;Comparison availableStanza 3Fire he needs who with frozen kneesComparison availableStanza 4Water and towels and welcoming speechComparison availableStanza 5Wits must he have who wanders wide,Comparison availableStanza 6A man shall not boast of his keenness of mind,Comparison availableStanza 7The knowing guest who goes to the feast,Comparison availableStanza 8Happy the one who wins for himselfComparison availableStanza 9Happy the man who has while he livesComparison availableStanza 10A better burden may no man bearComparison availableStanza 11A better burden may no man bearComparison availableStanza 12Less good there lies than most believeComparison availableStanza 13Over beer the bird of forgetfulness broods,Comparison availableStanza 14Drunk I was, I was dead-drunk,Comparison availableStanza 15The son of a king shall be silent and wise,Comparison availableStanza 16The sluggard believes he shall live forever,Comparison availableStanza 17The fool is agape when he comes to the feast,Comparison availableStanza 18He alone is aware who has wandered wide,Comparison availableStanza 19Shun not the mead, but drink in measure;Comparison availableStanza 20The greedy man, if his mind be vague,Comparison availableStanza 21The herds know well when home they shall fare,Comparison availableStanza 22A paltry man and poor of mindComparison availableStanza 23The witless man is awake all night,Comparison availableStanza 24The foolish man for friends all thoseComparison availableStanza 25The foolish man for friends all thoseComparison availableStanza 26An ignorant man thinks that all he knows,Comparison availableStanza 27A witless man, when he meets with men,Comparison availableStanza 28Wise shall he seem who well can question,Comparison availableStanza 29Often he speaks who never is stillComparison availableStanza 30In mockery no one a man shall hold,Comparison availableStanza 31Wise a guest holds it to take to his heels,Comparison availableStanza 32Friendly of mind are many men,Comparison availableStanza 33Oft should one make an early meal,Comparison availableStanza 34Crooked and far is the road to a foe,Comparison availableStanza 35Forth shall one go, nor stay as a guestComparison availableStanza 36Better a house, though a hut it be,Comparison availableStanza 37Better a house, though a hut it be,Comparison availableStanza 38Away from his arms in the open fieldComparison availableStanza 39If wealth a man has won for himself,Comparison availableStanza 40None so free with gifts or food have I foundComparison availableStanza 41Friends shall gladden each other with arms and garments,Comparison availableStanza 42To his friend a man a friend shall prove,Comparison availableStanza 43To his friend a man a friend shall prove,Comparison availableStanza 44If a friend thou hast whom thou fully wilt trust,Comparison availableStanza 45If another thou hast whom thou hardly wilt trust,Comparison availableStanza 46So is it with him whom thou hardly wilt trust,Comparison availableStanza 47Young was I once, and wandered alone,Comparison availableStanza 48The lives of the brave and noble are best,Comparison availableStanza 49My garments once in a field I gaveComparison availableStanza 50On the hillside drear the fir-tree dies,Comparison availableStanza 51Hotter than fire between false friendsComparison availableStanza 52No great thing needs a man to give,Comparison availableStanza 53A little sand has a little sea,Comparison availableStanza 54A measure of wisdom each man shall have,Comparison availableStanza 55A measure of wisdom each man shall have,Comparison availableStanza 56A measure of wisdom each man shall have,Comparison availableStanza 57A brand from a brand is kindled and burned,Comparison availableStanza 58He must early go forth who fain the bloodComparison availableStanza 59He must early go forth whose workers are few,Comparison availableStanza 60Of seasoned shingles and strips of barkComparison availableStanza 61Washed and fed to the council fare,Comparison availableStanza 62When the eagle comes to the ancient sea,Comparison availableStanza 63To question and answer must all be readyComparison availableStanza 64The man who is prudent a measured useComparison availableStanza 65. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Comparison availableStanza 66Too early to many a meeting I came,Comparison availableStanza 67To their homes men would bid me hither and yon,Comparison availableStanza 68Fire for men is the fairest gift,Comparison availableStanza 69All wretched is no man, though never so sick;Comparison availableStanza 70It is better to live than to lie a corpse,Comparison availableStanza 71The lame rides a horse, the handless is herdsman,Comparison availableStanza 72A son is better, though late he be born,Comparison availableStanza 73Two make a battle, the tongue slays the head;Comparison availableStanza 74He welcomes the night whose fare is enough.Comparison availableStanza 75A man knows not, if nothing he knows,Comparison availableStanza 76Among Fitjung’s sons saw I well-stocked folds,—Comparison availableStanza 77Cattle die, and kinsmen die,Comparison availableStanza 78Cattle die, and kinsmen die,Comparison availableStanza 79Certain is that which is sought from runes,Comparison availableStanza 80An unwise man, if a maiden’s loveComparison availableStanza 81Give praise to the day at evening, to a woman on her pyre,Comparison availableStanza 82When the gale blows hew wood, in fair winds seek the water;Comparison availableStanza 83By the fire drink ale, over ice go on skates;Comparison availableStanza 84A man shall trust not the oath of a maid,Comparison availableStanza 85In a breaking bow or a burning flame,Comparison availableStanza 86In a flying arrow or falling waters,Comparison availableStanza 87In a calf that is sick or a stubborn thrall,Comparison availableStanza 88In a brother’s slayer, if thou meet him abroad,Comparison availableStanza 89Hope not too surely for early harvest,Comparison availableStanza 90The love of women fickle of willComparison availableStanza 91Clear now will I speak, for I know them both,Comparison availableStanza 92Soft words shall he speak and wealth shall he offerComparison availableStanza 93Fault for loving let no man findComparison availableStanza 94Fault with another let no man findComparison availableStanza 95The head alone knows what dwells near the heart,Comparison availableStanza 96This found I myself, when I sat in the reeds,Comparison availableStanza 97Billing’s daughter I found on her bed,Comparison availableStanza 98“Othin, again at evening come,Comparison availableStanza 99Away I hastened, hoping for joy,Comparison availableStanza 100So came I next when night it was,Comparison availableStanza 101At morning then, when once more I came,Comparison availableStanza 102Many fair maids, if a man but tries them,Comparison availableStanza 103Though glad at home, and merry with guests,Comparison availableStanza 104I found the old giant, now back have I fared,Comparison availableStanza 105The mouth of Rati made room for my passage,Comparison availableStanza 106Gunnloth gave on a golden stoolComparison availableStanza 107The well-earned beauty well I enjoyed,Comparison availableStanza 108Hardly, methinks, would I home have come,Comparison availableStanza 109The day that followed, the frost-giants came,Comparison availableStanza 110On his ring swore Othin the oath, methinks;Comparison availableStanza 111It is time to chant from the chanter’s stool;Comparison availableStanza 112I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 113I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 114Such is her might that thou hast no mindComparison availableStanza 115I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 116I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 117I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 118I saw a man who was wounded soreComparison availableStanza 119I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 120I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 121I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 122I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 123For never thou mayst from an evil manComparison availableStanza 124Mingled is love when a man can speakComparison availableStanza 125I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 126I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 127I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 128I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 129I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 130I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 131I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 132I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 133Oft scarcely he knows who sits in the houseComparison availableStanza 134I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 135I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 136Strong is the beam that raised must beComparison availableStanza 137I rede thee, Loddfafnir! and hear thou my rede,—Comparison availableStanza 138Now are Hor’s words spoken in the hall,Comparison availableStanza 139I ween that I hung on the windy tree,Comparison availableStanza 140None made me happy with loaf or horn,Comparison availableStanza 141Nine mighty songs I got from the sonComparison availableStanza 142Then began I to thrive, and wisdom to get,Comparison availableStanza 143Runes shalt thou find, and fateful signs,Comparison availableStanza 144Othin for the gods, Dain for the elves,Comparison availableStanza 145Knowest how one shall write, knowest how one shall rede?Comparison availableStanza 146Better no prayer than too big an offering,Comparison availableStanza 147The songs I know that king’s wives know not,Comparison availableStanza 148A second I know, that men shall needComparison availableStanza 149A third I know, if great is my needComparison availableStanza 150A fourth I know, if men shall fastenComparison availableStanza 151A fifth I know, if I see from afarComparison availableStanza 152A sixth I know, if harm one seeksComparison availableStanza 153A seventh I know, if I see in flamesComparison availableStanza 154An eighth I know, that is to allComparison availableStanza 155A ninth I know, if need there comesComparison availableStanza 156A tenth I know, what time I seeComparison availableStanza 157An eleventh I know, if needs I must leadComparison availableStanza 158A twelfth I know, if high on a treeComparison availableStanza 159A thirteenth I know, if a thane full youngComparison availableStanza 160A fourteenth I know, if fain I would nameComparison availableStanza 161A fifteenth I know, that before the doorsComparison availableStanza 162A sixteenth I know, if I seek delightComparison availableStanza 163A seventeenth I know, so that seldom shall goComparison availableStanza 164Long these songs thou shalt, Loddfafnir,Comparison availableStanza 165An eighteenth I know, that ne’er will I tellComparison available